Recreating the state of a clinical system

ABSTRACT

A method, system and medium are provided for enabling re-creation of a state of a computing system as it existed at a selected time. A plurality of data elements are tracked including functions and reference information employed in calculating one or more of the data elements. Versions of functions and reference information are also tracked. Thereby, a time at which to recreate the state of the system is selectable and the data elements that were available at or before the selected time are identifiable. And the versions of functions and reference information that were available at the selected time are identifiable. The state of the system at the selected time can thus be reviewed or analyzed as desired.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention are provided here for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure, and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the Detailed-Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. In brief and at a high level, this disclosure describes, among other things, ways to recreate the state of a system as it existed at a prior point in time.

In embodiments of the invention, data elements collected in the course of caring for a patient are stored with a time stamp. Additional data associated with the patient data and with a clinical system generally are also collected and stored in a way that enables correlation of the additional data with a time when it was used or was valid. The additional data includes, for example, functions used to calculate derived data elements or to trigger alert conditions. And the additional data includes reference information that is useable to inform the functions.

As such, a time occurring in the past at which to recreate the state of the clinical system may be selected. Corresponding patient data and additional data are identified based on their respective time stamps. The state of the clinical system is thus recreated in a way that shows the user only the data that was available to the system at the selected time. And the state includes the additional data in the condition that it existed at the selected time, e.g. functions and reference information are provided in the versions that were available at the selected time. Thereby, the clinical system may be audited or otherwise reviewed to determine why or how events occurred, or did not occur, at the selected time based on an accurate representation of the state of the system as it existed at the selected time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary computing environment suitable for use in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an system for tracking data associated with a patient in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of an event-history window of a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of a data-view window of a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of an event-details window of a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram depicting a method for recreating a state of a system at a prior time in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting a method for auditing a computing system to identify conditions of the computing system existing at a selected prior time in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems, methods and computer-readable media for recreating the state of a system as it existed at selected time in the past. As described herein, time uses any temporal measurement or logical sequencing. The time is measurable by any desired means and in any units. The notion of time might be that that is measureable based on a clock, a counter, or any other logical sequencing of events. For example, time might comprise a particular time of day measured based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) like 5:30 PM, a time and date (e.g. Mar. 28, 2011 17:30:00). The time might also comprise a point in a sequence of events or a counter, such as a computer's system time that is based on the number of seconds that have elapsed since Jan. 1, 1970 00:00:00 Universal Time.

The system for which the state is recreated is described herein as a clinical system, such as that of a hospital or medical facility. But embodiments of the invention are applicable to any computing system for which it is desirable to enable recreation of a prior state. Such computing systems include, for example and not limitation, those used for financial transactions, insurance claims, manufacturing or the like.

As described herein, the state of a system is recreated at a selected time—the selected time occurring in the past. The state of the system is descriptive of the knowledge available to the system at a given time. In an embodiment, the knowledge available to the system includes part or all of the data stored in memory components of the system, or that are accessible by the system, at the given time. The state of the system changes any time there is a mutation of data. Mutation of data includes additions of new data as well as modifications and deletions of existing data. For example, the state of a system that includes data elements X, Y and Z at a time (t) and that receives a new data element A at a time (t+1) has been changed by the addition of the new data element A. Thus, at time (t) the state of the system includes data elements X, Y and Z while the state of the system at time (t+1) includes data elements X, Y, Z and A.

Embodiments of the invention are adapted to allow recreation of states of systems that employ functions and/or reference information to manipulate data elements. Functions, as described herein, include any available manipulator of data elements including, for example and not limitation, mathematical functions and program routines. Reference information, as described herein, includes any available information used by a system that informs, instructs or describes a function or data element. For example, reference information might describe a range of values of a data element that are useable in a function or what a value of a data element means or a name of a data element. For instance, in a clinical setting, reference information might describe any aspect of a body-mass index (BMI) calculation. The reference information might describe data elements that are used for the BMI calculation, ranges of values that might result from the BMI calculation, what a value means when it falls within one of the ranges and might identify the function to be used for the BMI calculation.

Functions and reference information employed by a system may change or be updated from time to time. Thus, a function that is used at a time (t) may not be the same as a function that is currently in use or that is used at any time before or after the time (t). Such changes may alter the resulting data that is produced by the function or through use of the reference information. Prior systems are unable to easily account for these changes or to track their occurrence. And accurate recreation of the state of a system requires knowledge of the data elements, functions and reference information available at the time selected for recreation of the state. For example, when a function is modified between a current time and a selected time for state recreation, without knowledge of the modification and of the previous form of the function, the state of the system may be difficult or impossible to accurately recreate, e.g. the current function may result in a different outcome than the previous function that was in use at the selected time.

These changes to functions and reference information are described herein as updates of the function or reference information to a new version. A function that is updated is therefore changed from a first version to a second version.

In an embodiment of the invention, the functions used by the system are pure functions that have referential transparency. Pure functions are known as functions that do not change or modify existing data elements, i.e. functions that do not have side effects. And referential transparency indicates that a function can be replaced by its product. Use of pure functions enables re-creation of the state of the system because the values of data elements used by the functions are identifiable. If the functions altered the data elements then the values of the data elements that existed at a selected time, prior to initial execution of the function, would be difficult or impossible to identify; subsequent re-execution of the functions based on the changed data elements would thus result in a different value than what would have resulted in the initial execution.

Pure functions also enable re-execution and analysis of the behavior of the functions at a later time. For instance, if a function causes an alert to be issued at a time (t), the use of pure functions enable the logic that triggered the alert to be re-executed at any future time, and to answer, without ambiguity, why that alert was issued at the time (t). This removes the need for detailed auditing to determine why an alert was issued. And this aids analysis of the functions, inputs, and outputs thereof that might lead to improvements in the quality of the functions and the outputs or alerts issued thereby.

In an embodiment, computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for recreating a state of a system at a prior time is described. The method includes storing data elements for a patient with a respective time stamp. An indication of functions and pieces of reference information associated with the data elements is also stored. A selection of a time (t) that occurs in the past is received. A first subset of the data elements for the patient that include the time stamp occurring at or before the time (t) is identified. A second subset of the functions and the pieces of reference information associated with the first subset is also identified. A state of the system at the time (t) is recreated based on the first subset and the second subset.

In another embodiment, a computer-implemented method for auditing a computing system to identify conditions of the computing system existing at a selected prior time is described. A log of state changes that occur for data elements, functions and reference materials associated with a patient is generated. The log indicates a time at which each of the state changes occurred. A selection of a time (t) is received. A subset of the data elements that were known to a computing system at or before the time (t) is identified based on the log and/or an indication stored with each of the data elements that shows a time that the respective data element was received. Functions that were in use by the computing system at the time (t) are determined based at least partially on the log. A user interface that depicts a state of the computing system at the time (t) based on the subset of the data elements and the functions is generated.

In another embodiment, a system for tracking data associated with a patient is described. The system includes a patient-data-tracking component, a knowledge-base-tracking component, a function-tracking component and an auditing component. The patient-data-tracking component is configured to store data elements associated with a patient and to associate a respective time stamp with each of the data elements. The knowledge-base-tracking component is configured to identify a version of a piece of reference information associated with the data elements. The function-tracking component is configured to identify a version of a function associated with the data elements. And the auditing component is configured to recreate a state of the system as it existed at a selected time (t) by receiving a selection of the time (t), identifying one or more of the data elements that include a respective time stamp that occurs at or before the time (t), and identifying the versions of the piece of reference information and the function.

Having briefly described embodiments of the present invention, an exemplary operating environment suitable for use in implementing embodiments of the present invention is described below. Referring to the drawings in general, and initially to FIG. 1 in particular, an exemplary computing system environment, a medical information computing system environment, with which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented is illustrated and designated generally as reference numeral 20. It will be understood and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the illustrated medical information computing system environment 20 is merely an example of one suitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention. Neither should the medical information computing system environment 20 be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any single component or combination of components illustrated therein.

The present invention may be operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the present invention include, by way of example only, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, personal digital assistants, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above-mentioned systems or devices and the like.

The present invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The present invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in association with local and/or remote computer storage media including, by way of example only, memory storage devices.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the exemplary medical information computing system environment 20 includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a control server 22. Components of the control server 22 may include, without limitation, a processing unit, internal system memory, and a suitable system bus for coupling various system components, including database cluster 24, with the control server 22. The system bus may be any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus, using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronic Standards Association (VESA) local bus and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, also known as Mezzanine bus.

The control server 22 typically includes therein, or has access to, a variety of computer-readable media and/or communications media, for instance, database cluster 24. Computer-readable media can be any available media that may be accessed by server 22 and includes volatile and nonvolatile media as well as removable and non-removable media. But computer-readable media is exclusive of communications media.

By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media include computer storage media and computer storage devices. Computer storage media may include, without limitation, volatile and nonvolatile media as well as removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. In this regard, computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVDs) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which may be accessed by the control server 22.

By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. And communications media is inclusive of signals, carrier waves and the like.

The computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 1, including database cluster 24, provide storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the control server 22. The control server 22 may operate in a computer network 26 using logical connections to one or more remote computers 28. Remote computers 28 may be located at a variety of locations in a medical or research environment, for example, but not limited to, clinical laboratories (e.g., molecular diagnostic laboratories), hospitals and other inpatient settings, veterinary environments, ambulatory settings, medical billing and financial offices, hospital administration settings, home health care environments and clinicians' offices. Clinicians may include, but are not limited to, a treating physician or physicians, specialists such as surgeons, radiologists, cardiologists, and oncologists, emergency medical technicians, physicians' assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, nurses' aides, pharmacists, dieticians, microbiologists, laboratory experts, laboratory technologists, genetic counselors, researchers, veterinarians, students and the like. The remote computers 28 may also be physically located in non-traditional medical care environments so that the entire health care community may be capable of integration on the network. The remote computers 28 may be personal computers, servers, routers, network PCs, peer devices, other common network nodes or the like, and may include some or all of the elements described above in relation to the control server 22.

Exemplary computer networks 26 may include, without limitation, local area networks (LANs) and/or wide area networks (WANs). Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet. When utilized in a WAN networking environment, the control server 22 may include a modem or other means for establishing communications over the WAN, such as the Internet. In a networked environment, program modules or portions thereof may be stored in association with the control server 22, the database cluster 24 or any of the remote computers 28. For example, and not by way of limitation, various application programs may reside on the memory associated with any one or more of the remote computers 28. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers (e.g., control server 22 and remote computers 28) may be utilized.

In operation, a clinician may enter commands and information into the control server 22 or convey the commands and information to the control server 22 via one or more of the remote computers 28 through input devices, such as a keyboard, a pointing device (commonly referred to as a mouse), a trackball or a touch pad. Other input devices may include, without limitation, microphones, satellite dishes, scanners or the like. Commands and information may also be sent directly from a remote healthcare device to the control server 22. In addition to a monitor, the control server 22 and/or remote computers 28 may include other peripheral output devices, such as speakers and a printer.

Although many other internal components of the control server 22 and the remote computers 28 are not shown, it is appreciated that such components and their interconnection are well known. Accordingly, additional details concerning the internal construction of the control server 22 and the remote computers 28 are not further disclosed herein.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a system 200 for tracking data associated with a patient in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is described. The system 200 includes a patient-data-tracking component 202, a knowledge-base tracking component 204, a function-tracking component 206, an auditing component 208 and a presentation component 210. The patient-data-tracking component 202 is configured to receive and/or collect a plurality of data elements from a variety of sources associated with a clinical computing environment. The data elements include any data collected for a patient like, for example, demographic data, contact information, vital signs, symptoms, diagnosis, medical records, and insurance information among others. The data elements also include any derived data.

Derived data includes data elements that are the product of one or more functions or the application of reference information. As described previously, a function is any manipulator of one or more data elements. Derived data may thus comprise the product of one or more mathematical equations. Or the derived data might be the product of a computer program or routine that employs one or more data elements, functions and pieces of reference information to determine the derived data. For example, taking the above BMI calculation example, the derived data includes a calculated BMI value as well as an “obese” label that is identified using the calculated BMI and consulting reference information that provides clinical labels for various ranges of BMI. The derived data might also include a numeric label that is associated with the diagnosis, “obese” among a variety of other derived data elements.

A time stamp is provided by the patient-data-tacking component 202 for the data elements, including any derived data elements. A respective time stamp may be provided with each data element or a number of data elements might be associated with a given time stamp. The time stamp indicates a time when the data element was received, collected, stored, calculated, modified or otherwise acted on by the system 200. In an embodiment, the time stamp is additionally or alternatively provided via a log file that records modifications of the data elements. Various other ways of tracking modifications of data elements may be employed in embodiments of the invention and are understood as being within the scope of the embodiments described herein.

In an embodiment, when a modification of a data element is received, a modified version of the data element is stored with a time stamp indicating the time at which the modification was made. And the original data element remains in storage—unchanged—with its original time stamp. Thus, both an original and a modified version of the data element are stored by the patient-data-tracking component 202 along with their respective time stamps. In an embodiment, only the modified version of a data element is stored. But the modified version of the data element includes an indication of the mutations made to the previous data element to produce the modified version of the data element.

The data elements stored by the patient-data-tracking component 202 may also include any data associated with the clinical computing environment that may or may not be directly associated with the patient. Such data elements might be associated with other patients, staff, facilities, workflows, computing systems, procedures or the like. In such an instance, data privacy and security procedures are implemented to insure privacy of patient information.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the knowledge-base-tracking component 204 is configured to track and store reference information that is utilized in the clinical computing environment. The reference information includes any publications, procedures, guidelines or references that are usable in the care of a patient, the processing of the patient's information in the clinical computing environment or any other aspect of manipulation of data elements associated with the patient or the clinical system. For instance, the reference information might include a chart that indicates ranges of a patient's BMI that indicate that the patient is “underweight,” in “normal” range, “overweight” or “obese.” The reference information might also indicate which function is to be applied based on the age, gender, ethnicity or body type of the patient as well as subdivisions of the major categories and intervention procedures to be prescribed based thereon.

The knowledge-base-tracking component 204 also tracks the version of the reference information that is associated with the one or more data elements. The version of the reference information is tracked by providing an indication in a log file that identifies a time when the version of the reference information updated, i.e. when the reference information is modified. In an embodiment, a pointer is stored with a data element that is associated with a piece of reference information to indicate the version of the reference information that was used in association with the data element. Additionally, both the original and the modified versions of the reference information are stored such that either version may be referenced or used at a later time. Or only the modified version is stored along with an indication of the modifications made to the previous version. Various other ways of tracking modifications to reference information may be employed in embodiments of the invention and are understood as being within the scope of the embodiments described herein.

The function-tracking component 206 is configured to track and store functions employed in the clinical computing environment. As described previously, the functions include any manipulator of one or more data elements, e.g. mathematical functions, computer programs and routines, or the like. The function-tracking component 206 stores functions employed in the care of a patient as well as any other functions that are associated with the patient or the clinical computing system generally.

The function-tracking component 206 also tracks modifications to any of the functions, e.g. versions of the functions. An indication of a modification to a function is placed in a log file. The indication provides a time of the modification and may indicate what the modification was. In an embodiment, the function-tracking component 206 stores an indication of a version of the function that is associated with one or more data elements with the respective data elements. The data elements may be data elements used as variables in the function or may be derived data elements that resulted from execution of the function. In an embodiment both a modified version and an original version of a function is stored or the modified version is stored with an indication of the modifications made thereto. Various other ways of tracking modifications to functions may be employed in embodiments of the invention and are understood as being within the scope of the embodiments described herein.

The auditing component 208 is configured to recreate a state of the clinical computing environment or a portion thereof at a selected time. The computing environment is recreated based on all data, functions and reference information available and/or used in the course of caring for a patient. In an embodiment, the computing environment is recreated based on all data, functions and reference information available to all or part of the computing environment at large. As such, the state of the computing environment is recreated with respect to an individual patient, a plurality of patients or for all or part of a healthcare system.

The auditing component 208 receives a selection of a time that is prior to a current time at which to recreate the state of the computing environment. The selection of time is received via a user interface like, for example, a user interface 300, 400, 500 depicted in FIGS. 3-5. The time might be selected through manual entry of a time and date into a data field 402 in a data-view pane 400 of the user interface. The time might also be selected by, for example, first selecting a patient from a list of patients or by accessing the system 200 and/or the auditing component 208 via a patient's electronic medical record. Events 302 occurring in the course of treatment of the patient and their associated times might then be displayed in an event-history pane 300 as depicted in FIG. 4. The time is thereby selectable via a respective link 304 in the event history pane 400. A variety of other ways of receiving a selection of a time may be employed in embodiments of the invention and are understood as being within the scope of the embodiments described herein.

The auditing component 208 identifies data elements, such as those stored by the patient-data-tracking component 202, that include or are associated with a time stamp that occurs at or before the selected time, e.g. time stamp≦selected time. Functions and reference information are also identified that are associated with a time stamp occurring prior to the selected time, e.g. time stamp<selected time. In an embodiment, versions of the functions and reference information that are associated with, or that were in use at the selected time are identified.

For example, a function might have been updated to a new version between the selected time and the current time. Thus, a version of the function that was in use at the selected time is identified—not the current version. In an embodiment, only the current version of the function is stored and includes an indication of changes made to a prior version of the function to form the current version. In this instance, the current version is “unmodified” using the indication of the changes in order to identify the function in the form that was in use at the selected time.

The presentation component 210 is configured to provide a user interface, such as a user interface comprised of windows 300, 400, 500 depicted in FIGS. 3-5, for presentation to a user via a display device. The user interface displays one or more of the identified data elements and may include one or more of the identified functions and pieces of reference information. The data elements, functions and reference information are displayed in any desired form and organization. One such exemplary form is depicted in FIGS. 3-5. The windows 300, 400 and 500 depicted in FIGS. 3-5 are provided herein for exemplary purposes only and are not intended to limit embodiments of the invention in any manner. It is understood that various other configurations of the windows 300, 400 and 500 and the user interface generally may be available and all such configurations are within the scope of the descriptions provided herein.

FIG. 3 depicts the event-history window 300 of an exemplary user interface. The event-history window 300 includes a listing of events 302 that occurred in the course of treatment of a fictional patient “John Doe” along with a respective time 306 associated with each event 302 and a link 308 to details associated with the respective event 302. In the embodiment depicted, the display of the time 306 also serves as the link 304 to provide selection of a time for re-creation of the state of the system, as described previously. In an embodiment, the link 308 also serves as a way of providing a selection of a time for re-creation of the state of the system, the time being the time 306 associated with the event 302. It is recognized that additional and/or alternative data elements might also be provided in the event-history window 300. Such embodiments are understood as being within the scope of the description provided herein.

In an embodiment, selection of link 304 directs the user interface to the data-view window 400 depicted in FIG. 4. In another embodiment, selection of the link 308 directs the user interface to an event-details window 500, as depicted in FIG. 5. The data-view window 400 and the event-details window 500 might also be independently accessible without the use of the event-history window 300.

The data-view window 400 includes the data field 402 in which a selected time might be entered. The data-field 402 might also display a previously selected time or a time associated with an event 302 occurring in the course of treatment of the patient. Selectable icons 404 are provided to allow a user to sequentially scroll through a plurality of events 302 and/or a drop-down icon 406 is provided to provide a drop-down listing of selectable events.

The data-view window 400 also includes a data-selection pane 408 in which a selectable reference 410 to one or more of the data elements, functions and pieces of reference information is provided. The data-selection pane 408 is organized in any desired manner. In the depicted data-selection pane 408, the data elements, functions and/or reference information are organized by headings 412 that are selectable to reveal a listing of the references 410 to the associated data elements, functions and/or pieces of reference information. Selection of the reference 410 causes one or more of the data elements, functions and/or pieces of reference information to be presented in a display pane 414. As such, the data-view window 400 displays the data elements, functions, and reference information that were available at or before a selected time displayed in the data field 402.

The event-details window 500, depicted in FIG. 5, includes one or more data elements 502, functions 504 and/or pieces of reference information 506, or indications thereof, that are associated with a selected event 302. The listing of one or more of the data elements 502, functions 504 and/or pieces of reference information 506 might also comprise a link, such as a link 508, that directs the user interface to present additional related data. As such, in an embodiment, the event-details window 500 provides an indication of the functions 504 related to an event 302 and the data elements 502, pieces of reference information 506, and/or additional functions that were used as variables in the function 504 that resulted in the event 302.

For example, in an embodiment, the event 302 is an alert that is triggered to notify clinicians of a potential condition of the fictional patient “John Doe.” The alert is triggered by execution of the function 504 resulting in a predetermined value associated with the condition. For instance, the function might be a BMI calculation and the alert is triggered when a calculated BMI falls in the “obese” range. Thus, the event-details window 500 displays the version of the BMI function and any data elements, pieces of reference information and/or other functions used to produce the BMI value that triggered the alert.

With reference now to FIG. 6, a method 600 for recreating a state of a clinical system at a prior time in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is described. At a step 602, data elements associated with a patient are received or collected and are stored with a time stamp. The data elements are collected or received by the system from any available source including for example manual entry of data into the patient's electronic medical record (EMR), collection of data by monitoring devices, scanners and x-ray machines, clinician's notes and receipt of test results from third party vendors among a variety of others.

The time stamp is provided for each of the data elements by the system or by a third party such as the third party vendor providing test results or a clinician entering the data into the patient's EMR. And an individual time stamp is provided for each data element or is provided for a group of data elements. The time stamps are stored with the data elements in a database as metadata for the data elements or might be stored in a log file associated with the data elements.

Functions and reference information employed by the system are also stored, as indicated at a step 604. In an embodiment, the functions and reference information that are used in the treatment or care of the patient are stored in records associated with the patient. In another embodiment indications of the functions and reference information used in the care and treatment of the patient are stored in the patient's records while the functions and reference information are stored in elsewhere, such as in a general storage location, like the data store 24 of FIG. 1.

The functions and reference information are also provided with a time stamp and/or a version indicator. As the functions and reference information may be updated from time to time to a new version, the time stamp and/or version indicator indicates a version that is in use at a given time or time period. The time stamp and/or version indicator is stored with the patient's records, in a general storage and/or is indicated in a log file.

At a step 606A, a selection of a time (t) is received. The selection is received via, for example, a user interface, such as that depicted in FIGS. 3-5. The selection is received via manual entry of a time and date, selection of a time and date from a list, calendar or timeline or scrolling through a number of available times, among a variety of other methods. The selected time is any time within the period for which the patient was under the care and treatment of the clinical system or for which data is available for the patient. Or the selected time might be limited to instances in the care of the patient at which an event that was recognized by the system occurred.

Alternatively, at a step 606B a selection of an event is received. A selected time (t) is thus identified based on a time stamp associated with the selected event.

At a step 608, a subset of all of the data elements associated with a patient are identified. The data elements belonging to the subset are identified as those data elements that include a time stamp that occurs at or before the selected time (t), e.g. the time stamp of the data elements≦the selected time (t).

At a step 610, a subset of the functions and pieces of reference information that are associated with the data elements in the subset of data elements is identified. The functions and pieces of reference information include a time stamp that occurs prior to the selected time (t) and/or a version indicator that indicates that a particular version of the function or piece of reference information was in use at the selected time (t), e.g. the time stamp<the selected time (t).

In an embodiment, a version indicator indicates that a version of a function or piece of reference information that was in use at the time (t) is different than a current version. And a change log indicates modifications made to the function or piece of reference information between the selected time (t) and the current time. As such, the function or piece of reference information is “unmodified” based on the change log to provide the function or piece of reference information in its previous version for inclusion in the subset. In another embodiment, both a prior and a current version of the function or reference information is stored in a memory and, the appropriate version is provided for inclusion in the subset based on the associated time stamps or version indicators.

The state of the clinical system is recreated based on the subset of data elements and the subset of functions and pieces of reference information, as indicated at a step 612. In an embodiment, a user interface is provided to display one or more of the data elements, functions and pieces of reference information of the clinical system in its recreated state, such as that depicted in FIGS. 3-5. As such, the system may be viewed, audited, parsed or otherwise examined based on the data elements, functions and reference information that were available at the selected time (t).

The recreated state provides the functions and reference information in the appropriate versions thereof that were in use at the selected time (t). This allows the functions and reference information to be reviewed and executed or re-executed just as they would have been at the selected time (t). As such, changes or modifications to the functions and/or reference information that occurred after the selected time (t) will not affect the presentation or execution of those functions and/or pieces of reference information in the recreated state. This may allow analysis or auditing of any effects caused by the changes or modifications to the functions and/or pieces of reference information.

For example, assume a function for calculating the risk of a stroke in a patient was modified between a selected time (t) and a current time. Also assume that the patient had a stroke following the selected time (t). In such an instance, clinicians might question why an alert was not provided indicating the patient had a high risk of stroke. By recreating the state of the system at the selected time (t), the clinicians can analyze the patient's symptoms at the selected time (t). The clinicians might notice that the patient's symptoms should have caused the alert to be provided based on current recommendations and a current function used to provide such alerts. But the clinicians are also provided with an indication that a prior version of the function and/or reference information was in use at the selected time (t) and did not result in the provision of an alert. The clinicians might also re-execute the prior version of the function to determine that it was functioning properly.

In an embodiment, the clinicians are also enabled to select a subsequent, current or other version of the function or reference information for execution based on the data elements available at the selected time (t). This might provide an understanding of how changes or modifications to the function or reference information affects the output thereof.

In another embodiment, the state of the clinical system at a time prior to the occurrence of an event is analyzed to generate criteria useable to predict the occurrence of an event. As depicted in FIG. 6, a selection of an event occurring at a time (t1) is received, as indicated at a step 606C. A selected time (t) at which to recreate the state of the system is determined based on a predetermined period of time prior to the event, e.g. the selected time (t)=the time of the event (t1)−a predetermined period of time (X). The predetermined period of time is any desired amount of time, such as minutes, days, months, years, etc. The predetermined period of time might be selectable via a user interface by one or more of manual entry of a desired amount of time, a slider on a timeline or selection of an icon among a variety of other methods.

Following selection of the event, determination of the time (t) and re-creation of the state of the system as indicated at the step 612, criteria usable to predict the event are identified, as indicated at a step 614. The criteria include any identified data elements, functions and/or pieces of reference information that might indicate the impending or potential for the occurrence of the selected event. For example, the state of the system might be analyzed for a patient that suffered a heart attack—the heart attack being recorded as an event for the patient. The state of the system is recreated for a time occurring two hours prior to the heart attack event. The data elements available in the system two hours prior to the heart attack event indicate that a specific activity on the patient's electrocardiogram had steadily increased over the previous two days.

This increased activity might be identified as a criterion for predicting the onset of a heart attack. Similar data might also be analyzed for a plurality of other patients suffering heart attacks to confirm the findings. The state of the system at a time two hours prior to a heart attack event for each of those patients might also be recreated. And a new function might be generated for using this increased activity level as a predictor of heart attacks.

With reference now to FIG. 7, a method 700 for auditing a computing system to identify conditions of the computing system existing at a selected prior time is described in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. At a step 702, a log is generated. The log includes a record of state changes to the computing system. The state changes comprise any mutations of data, functions or other elements of the computing system. The mutations are described in any level of detail sufficient to allow re-creation of the state of the system. For example, the mutations might be fully described in the log (e.g. value of x changed from x=a to x=b) or the log might include a pointer to a separate storage location that provides the details of the mutations. The log also includes an indication of the time when each of the state changes occurred.

At a step 704, a selection of a time (t) at which to recreate the state of the computing system is received. A subset of data elements are identified based at least in part on indications of the data elements that were available at the selected time (t) as provided by the log, as indicated at a step 706. Similarly, functions that were in use at the selected time (t) are identified based at least in part on the log, as indicated at a step 708. In an embodiment, the log provides an indication of a version of the functions in use at the selected time (t). And at a step 710, a user interface is generated depicting the state of the computing system at the selected time (t). The state of the computing system is recreated based on the identified data elements and functions available at the selected time (t) as indicated by the log.

As described previously, embodiments of the invention are described herein with respect to clinical systems, such as those in a hospital or other care facility. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited to such applications. For example, in the financial sector embodiments of the invention might be implemented to recreate the state of an electronic trading system for stocks and bonds. In such an instance, the state of the system at a selected time might be analyzed to determine why a stock purchase was or was not made. The state of the system might be recreated for the selected time and the data elements and functions associated with the stock purchase reviewed. In another embodiment, in a real estate system a transaction that is not in compliance with current regulations might be reviewed based on the state of the system at the time of the transaction. As such, it might be discovered that the reference information or functions associated with the regulations have changed since the time the transaction was made and that the transaction was in compliance with the regulations in force at that time.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. 

1. Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for recreating a state of a system at a prior time, the method comprising: storing each of a plurality of data elements for a patient with a respective time stamp; storing an indication of each of a plurality of functions and each of a plurality of pieces of reference information associated with one or more of the plurality of data elements; receiving a selection of a time (t); identifying a first subset of the plurality of data elements for the patient that include the time stamp occurring at or before the time (t); identifying a second subset of the plurality of functions and the plurality of pieces of reference information associated with the first subset; and recreating, via a computing device having a processor and a memory, a state of the system at the time (t) based on the first subset and the second subset.
 2. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data elements for the patient includes one or more of clinical data elements and derived data elements that are calculated based on one or more of the clinical data elements.
 3. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: storing additions, modifications or deletions to one or more of the plurality of data elements, the plurality of functions and the plurality of pieces of reference information in a log.
 4. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein receiving a selection of a time (t) further comprises receiving a selection of an event that occurred in the care of the patient.
 5. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the functions and pieces of reference information include a time reference that indicates a period of time for which the respective function and reference information is valid.
 6. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein an indicator is associated with one or more of the data elements for the patient that indicates a version of a function or a version of a piece of reference information with which the one or more data elements are associated.
 7. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: updating a first function included in the second subset at a time (t1), the first function being a first version and being updated to a second version, the time (t1) occurring after the time (t); and re-executing the first version of the first function based on one or more of the first and second subsets at a time (t2) that occurs after the time (t1) and after the first function has been updated to the second version.
 8. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: updating a first piece of reference information included in the second subset at a time (t1), the first piece of reference information being a first version and being updated to a second version, the time (t1) occurring after the time (t); and retrieving the first version of the first piece of reference information at a time (t2) that occurs after the time (t1) and after the first piece of reference information has been updated to the second version.
 9. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of the time (t) that occurs in the past further comprises: receiving a selection of an event that occurred in the care of the patient, wherein the event includes an indication of a time (t1) at which it occurred; determining the time (t) by subtracting a predetermined period of time from the time (t1).
 10. The computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: identifying a criterion based on one or more of a data element in the first subset, a function in the second subset, and a piece of reference information in the second subset that is useable to predict the event at the time (t) prior to actual occurrence of the event at the time (t1).
 11. A computer-implemented method for auditing a computing system to identify conditions of the computing system existing at a selected prior time, the method comprising: generating a log of state changes that occur for a plurality of data elements, functions, and reference materials associated with a patient, the log indicating a time at which each of the plurality of state changes occurs; receiving a selection of a time (t); identifying, via a computing device having a processor, a subset of the plurality of data elements that were known to a computing system at or before the time (t) based on one or more of the log and an indication stored with each of the data elements in the plurality that shows a time that the respective data element was received; determining one or more functions that were in use by the computing system at the time (t) based at least partially on the log; and generating a user interface that depicts a state of the computing system at the time (t) based on the subset of the plurality of data elements and the one or more functions.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the state changes include additions, modifications, and deletions of a data element, function, or reference material.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining one or more functions that were in use by the computing system at the time (t) based at least partially on the log includes identifying a version of each of the one or more functions that was in use at the time (t).
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein one or more of the plurality of data elements is a derived data element, wherein the derived data element is a product of one or more of the functions, and the log includes an indication of a time at which the derived data element was calculated and a version of the one or more functions from which it was calculated.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: identifying one or more reference materials in use by the computing system at the time (t) based on the log, the log including an indication of one or more of a time when each of the one or more reference materials is added, modified or deleted from the system.
 16. A system for tracking data associated with a patient comprising one or more computing devices having a processor and a memory and configured to provide: a patient-data-tracking component configured to store a plurality of data elements associated with a patient and to associate a respective time stamp with each of the data elements; a knowledge-base-tracking component configured to identify a version of a piece of reference information associated with one or more of the plurality of data elements; a function-tracking component configured to identify a version of a function associated with one or more of the plurality of data elements; an auditing component configured to recreate a state of the system as it existed at a selected time (t) by receiving a selection of the time (t), identifying one or more of the plurality of data elements that include a respective time stamp that occurs at or before the time (t), and identifying the versions of the piece of reference information and the function.
 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: a presentation component configured to provide a user interface for presentation to a user via a display device, the user interface depicting the state of the computing system at the time (t).
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user interface enables viewing of the one or more of the plurality of data elements that include a time stamp that occurs at or before the time (t), the version of the piece of reference information and the version of the function.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the system enables the function to be re-executed at a time (t1) based on the one or more of the plurality of data elements, the version of the piece of reference information and the version of the function that were available at the time (t), the time (t) occurring prior in time to the time (t1).
 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of data elements includes a derived data element that is the product on one or more second functions. 